Women's Basketball
Adia Barnes
- Title:
- Head Coach
Adia Barnes was named head women’s basketball coach at SMU on April 5, 2025.
In year one of the Barnes era, the Mustangs’ defense made its mark, finishing third in the ACC in steals per game (10) and sixth in blocks per game (4.4) and turnovers forced per game (16.8). The Mustangs were third in the league in total steals with 292.
On offense, SMU made 180 three-pointers, the third-most in a single season in program history.
Barnes also oversaw the development of Zahra King, who, playing out of position, shot 43.1% from the field, the fourth-best mark among ACC guards. King also finished in the Top 20 in the league in field goal percentage, total points (433) and points per game (14.4).
Prior to SMU, Barnes spent nine seasons as head coach at Arizona, her alma mater. During that time, she built a program that went to six consecutive postseasons. Barnes compiled a record of 169-114 and collected five consecutive 21-plus win seasons.
Barnes was a finalist for WBCA Coach of the Year and a semifinalist for Naismith Coach of the Year in 2021 when she led the Wildcats to the National Championship game and finished as runner-up. This was in her fifth season as a head coach. She is one of four coaches to lead their alma mater to a title game and one of four Black coaches to coach in the National Championship game.
During that magical run to the title game, Arizona defeated UConn in the Final Four, which was the first time in school history that Arizona knocked off both the No. 1 team in the nation and a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats finished the season with a 24-7 record. It also marked her second straight season eclipsing 24 total wins.
That summer, Barnes was an assistant coach as Team USA won the gold medal at the AmeriCup.
In seven straight seasons, Barnes’ Wildcats beat ranked teams. In the 2023-24 season, this included No. 3 Stanford, the first win in program history over a Top 5-ranked team. In the 2023-24 season, the Wildcats collected five Top 25 wins. They were also ranked in the AP Top 25 all season.
Barnes, who is known for player development, coached 14 players who have gone on to play professionally and numerous All-Pac-12 team members at Arizona.
In the 2023-24 season, Helena Pueyo and Esmery Martinez earned All-Pac-12 and All-Defensive honors, and both were selected in the WNBA draft.
This was the second time that Barnes had two players selected in the WNBA draft at Arizona. In the 2021 draft, it was All-American Aari McDonald and Trinity Baptiste.
In addition, Barnes coached Sam Thomas, who made the Phoenix Mercury in 2022 off a training camp contract, which is extremely rare.
Prior to her time in Tucson, Barnes spent five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Washington. She recruited the highest-ranking recruiting class in program history, highlighted by Kelsey Plum and Chantel Osahor and helped the Huskies to their first Final Four appearance in school history in 2016.
Before Barnes got into coaching, she had a long professional career, playing seven seasons in the WNBA and 12 overseas.
In the 1998 WNBA draft, she was picked 32nd overall by the Sacramento Monarchs. She also played for Minnesota and Cleveland, before landing in Seattle. Barnes played a key role in Seattle’s 2004 WNBA title, alongside Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. She was named to the Storm’s 2000’s All-Decade team.
In her offseasons when playing in Europe, Barnes was the Seattle Storm’s TV analyst for NBA TV and FOX Sports Northwest and also spent time as the color commentator for Storm radio broadcasts.
At Arizona, Barnes was a USBWA first-team All-American and Pac-10 player of the year in 1998. She was also a three-time All-Pac-10 selection and Pac-10 freshman of the year. Her 2,237 career points are the most in program history and ninth on the Pac-12’s all-time scoring list.
Barnes is active in the community as an advocate for women and mothers in coaching. After giving birth to her daughter in 2000, she led Arizona to the National Championship game, becoming the face of mothers in coaching. This moment inspired millions of women across the nation.
A native of San Diego, CA, Barnes is married to Salvo Coppa and the mother of a son, Matteo, and a daughter, Capri.
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In year one of the Barnes era, the Mustangs’ defense made its mark, finishing third in the ACC in steals per game (10) and sixth in blocks per game (4.4) and turnovers forced per game (16.8). The Mustangs were third in the league in total steals with 292.
On offense, SMU made 180 three-pointers, the third-most in a single season in program history.
Barnes also oversaw the development of Zahra King, who, playing out of position, shot 43.1% from the field, the fourth-best mark among ACC guards. King also finished in the Top 20 in the league in field goal percentage, total points (433) and points per game (14.4).
Prior to SMU, Barnes spent nine seasons as head coach at Arizona, her alma mater. During that time, she built a program that went to six consecutive postseasons. Barnes compiled a record of 169-114 and collected five consecutive 21-plus win seasons.
Barnes was a finalist for WBCA Coach of the Year and a semifinalist for Naismith Coach of the Year in 2021 when she led the Wildcats to the National Championship game and finished as runner-up. This was in her fifth season as a head coach. She is one of four coaches to lead their alma mater to a title game and one of four Black coaches to coach in the National Championship game.
During that magical run to the title game, Arizona defeated UConn in the Final Four, which was the first time in school history that Arizona knocked off both the No. 1 team in the nation and a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats finished the season with a 24-7 record. It also marked her second straight season eclipsing 24 total wins.
That summer, Barnes was an assistant coach as Team USA won the gold medal at the AmeriCup.
In seven straight seasons, Barnes’ Wildcats beat ranked teams. In the 2023-24 season, this included No. 3 Stanford, the first win in program history over a Top 5-ranked team. In the 2023-24 season, the Wildcats collected five Top 25 wins. They were also ranked in the AP Top 25 all season.
Barnes, who is known for player development, coached 14 players who have gone on to play professionally and numerous All-Pac-12 team members at Arizona.
In the 2023-24 season, Helena Pueyo and Esmery Martinez earned All-Pac-12 and All-Defensive honors, and both were selected in the WNBA draft.
This was the second time that Barnes had two players selected in the WNBA draft at Arizona. In the 2021 draft, it was All-American Aari McDonald and Trinity Baptiste.
In addition, Barnes coached Sam Thomas, who made the Phoenix Mercury in 2022 off a training camp contract, which is extremely rare.
Prior to her time in Tucson, Barnes spent five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Washington. She recruited the highest-ranking recruiting class in program history, highlighted by Kelsey Plum and Chantel Osahor and helped the Huskies to their first Final Four appearance in school history in 2016.
Before Barnes got into coaching, she had a long professional career, playing seven seasons in the WNBA and 12 overseas.
In the 1998 WNBA draft, she was picked 32nd overall by the Sacramento Monarchs. She also played for Minnesota and Cleveland, before landing in Seattle. Barnes played a key role in Seattle’s 2004 WNBA title, alongside Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. She was named to the Storm’s 2000’s All-Decade team.
In her offseasons when playing in Europe, Barnes was the Seattle Storm’s TV analyst for NBA TV and FOX Sports Northwest and also spent time as the color commentator for Storm radio broadcasts.
At Arizona, Barnes was a USBWA first-team All-American and Pac-10 player of the year in 1998. She was also a three-time All-Pac-10 selection and Pac-10 freshman of the year. Her 2,237 career points are the most in program history and ninth on the Pac-12’s all-time scoring list.
Barnes is active in the community as an advocate for women and mothers in coaching. After giving birth to her daughter in 2000, she led Arizona to the National Championship game, becoming the face of mothers in coaching. This moment inspired millions of women across the nation.
A native of San Diego, CA, Barnes is married to Salvo Coppa and the mother of a son, Matteo, and a daughter, Capri.
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